SC : PT : Carbon Dioxide

Question

An Excellent Question: 

According to some experts, carbon dioxide is accumulating in the atmosphere so rapidly, largely because of the burning of fossil fuels,  that should the present rate of buildup continue, the global concentration of this poison  will double by the end of the next century.

(A) that should the present rate of buildup continue, the global concentration of this poison 
(B) should the present rate of buildup continue, the global concentration of this poison
(C) should the present rate of buildup be continued, the global concentration of this poison
(D) the global concentration of this poison, were the present rate of buildup continue,
(E) that the global concentration of this poison, if the present rate of buildup did continue,

MA · Answer

(A) that should the present rate of buildup continue, the global concentration of this poison

rthothad · Answer

One more for 'A'

We need 'so rapidly.......that', so between A & E, A is better

MA · Answer

consider the followings: (E) that the global concentration of this poison, if the present rate of buildup did continue. present and did? :wink:

ywilfred · Answer

I'll go with (E) on this one. The phrase "if the present rate of buildup did continue" serves to modify 'concentration of this poison'. Removing the second phrase, will make the original sentence:

According to some experts, carbon dioxide is accumulating in the atmosphere so rapidly, largely because of the burning of fossil fuels, that the global concentration of this poison will double by the end of the next century

I did not find 'did' offending. In hypothetical situations, it is common to use a past tense. E.g. "If I were rich, I would ..."

Vithal · Answer

IMO E would have been correct if it were "if the present rate of buildup does continue" or better still "if the present rate of buildup continues"

you can never jump two tenses (past to future) in conditionals

sonaketu · Answer

Since the sentence is subjunctive, "continue" is the right usage. But did was not required.

GMATT73 · Answer

A

 (A) that should the present rate of buildup continue, the global concentration of this poison   should...will... is idiomatic

(E) that the global concentration of this poison, if the present rate of buildup  did  continue, did makes this sentence wrong (if....were...to continue is correct)

jpv · Answer

Yes it is between (A) and (E).

When I was attempting this question, I picked (E). I was racing against time and as soon as I saw "should", I eliminated it thinking that we need an Independent clause (Not any dependent Clause or sth else). I did not bother to read the whole sentence.

While revising, I observed that portion after "should" is an Independent Clause. It is an Subject-Verb Inversion. This question befooled me successfully

.

jpv · Answer

Of course OA is (A).

gmataquaguy · Answer

What is the "tense" for "would"? Isnt it future tense, no? Or is it only used to describe "hypothetical situations"? But every verb/participle should have a tense, right? So wouldnt "would" be future tense?

If i were   you, I would   take the job offer?

Vithal · Answer

Read the following link from webster: https://cctc.commnet.edu/grammar/conditional.htm would is an auxillary verb and can be used to express past - the following link will help in getting a better understanding: https://cctc.commnet.edu/grammar/auxiliary.htm

SC : PT : Carbon Dioxide

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